RowdyRebel

I wanna get thissun made....

what...are we comparin' stickers?

There has never been a cover on there as long as I've owned it...it was something I asked about when I looked at the truck, and was told that it wasn't necessary...that they usually end up being left off.

It's clean enough...

I'm pretty much a regular at the Cape location...if I go out to eat, 99 out of 100 times I'll probably end up at Show-Me's. I usually get the Show-Me's burger... ...double the meat (second patty)... ...add bacon, American cheese, grilled onions & peppers, and a little BBQ sauce... ...then it comes out and has the lettuce, tomato, and more onions... and instead of fries, I sub onion rings. I took this pic one time when I went in there and the manager wanted to see if I could eat a triple... I did.

I have a daycab....ain't got no blindside.

Yup...and it's a good thing, too. It's a nice metal grill, so when some bird decides to commit suicide, it doesn't break.

I love that bumper... 'cept for the idiot sticks

Dammit. If I didn't have to work early in the morning (and had seen all this earlier), I'd jump in the pickup and head down there....that Show-Me's on the outskirts of town just opened not too long ago...and I ain't made it in to that one yet.

That was the throwout bearing that caused me to call the wrecker Unless I'm not looking where I'm 'sposed ta be looking to see it, it ain't there. I ain't ever looked for it before...but it sure as heck ain't working now, and it ain't where I'm looking for it either. I've only seen 'em off the truck and was rather briefly told how to adjust 'em...thought I'd see if I could figure it out. I can see the input shaft pretty clearly. When you push down on the clutch, there's a good size piece that slides forward, leaving a small gap about the size of a clutch brake. I would assume the clutch brake should be in there, where it would get pinched as that other piece slides forward to slow/stop the input shaft....but it ain't. ...I could be wrong, though...I'm just guessing. I know it HAD a 2-piece clutch brake on there...it was replaced a month or two before the throwout bearing took a dump, and it didn't take 'em long to swap out, either. I should have crawled under there then to have a look, but didn't. Oh well...it's a learning experience, right? FWIW, I have the 2180 transmission book...even flipped through the pages, but didn't see anything about the clutch brake. Those books look to be more specific component breakdown/rebuild oriented.

don't need no stinkin' hood mirrors...and I pull all sorts of trailers

I'd have to pull 'em off, patch the holes, and repaint the hood. I can't stand any more mirrors than just the two on the doors. Heck, even in my pickup trucks, the first thing I do is rip that danged mirror off the windshield and throw it out....blocks my view to the front.

I think I need one of them "honk if parts fall off" bumper stickers. Went under the truck tonight when I got home to see about maybe adjusting the clutch brake..... ....only to find that there ain't no clutch brake 'splains why it don't like getting into gear

Yup... I had asked at 2 different Mack dealers where the used tires should go...and got 2 different answers. The used tires are about 1" to 1.5" in circumference larger than the outside tires that were staying on the truck....10/32 to 12/32 vs. 6/32 to 7/32 tread depth. One said to place the used ones on one side, the old ones on the other....the other said to run the used ones on the rear axle, the old ones on the front. I went with the front/rear, thinking this way if I had any problems...if one blew out...it would be least likely to rip off a fender or cause other damage to the truck. It was OK heading out to the quarry this morning...but once I had a load on, the Truck let me know it wasn't happy. It was clunking pretty loud...could feel it through the drive line. If I could coast, it would be smooth...but under power, I was praying it would stay together. I limped it up the road, using as little throttle as I could and pulled into the first tire shop I came to and told them I needed the front rights and the left rears swapped...put the used tires on the passenger side (so if I had to mess with 'em, I'd be in the grass instead of on the traffic side) and the old ones on the driver's side. They looked at me like I was nuts...said "In school we were taught to keep left/right the same on each axle" ...yeah. Obviously that don't work on Macks. An hour and a half later, with my bank account $40 lighter, I was on my way again.

So of course I SHOULD have got started yesterday....maybe someday I'll learn to quit procrastinating. Anyway, went out this afternoon to swap some tires around and put new brakes on the drives. The inside tires are pretty well shot from the problems I was having with these danged budd wheels 'til I got that all figgered out. So, about a month ago now, I bought 4 used tires to put across the rear axle (where if they blow, they are the least likely to damage anything on my truck), and move the outside wheels from the rear axle to the inside of the front axle. Then, next week Monday when my steers come back after being capped (so I have spares), I can drop the 4 inside tires off to get capped...then when I get them back, they'll go on the front and those can be sent in for caps. I prefer to run virgins...just can't afford 'em right now. Makes me glad I bought good tires last time I needed 'em, though. So I get started on the left rear. The outside wheel came off easy enough, but my little 3/4" impact gun just wouldn't budge 9 of the 10 barrel nuts holding that inside wheel on there. I got my 3/4" breaker bar and slipped a 30" cheater bar that I carry in my side box over the end of the breaker bar. I kinda figgered I wouldn't be able to budge it...so I got to thinking. I looked at the 1500# ATV jack in the corner of the garage...just seemed like it would be awkward (if I could even get it positioned where I'd need it). Of course the truck was propped up on my 20 ton bottle jack, so that was a no-go. That's when I spotted the 2-ton engine hoist I got from my grandpa's garage...it had potential. So, I move a few things out of the way so I can get it out into the driveway where I'm working...it had a chain, so I wrapped the chain around the cheater pipe a few times, positioned the hoist and the breaker bar, placed the chain in the hook at the end of the hoist, and got to jacking. It worked. It broke 'em loose, but now I gotta go to Sears to exchange the breaker bar since I bent the stupid handle. I love Craftsman tools. So I remove the inside wheel and break 'em both down. Now for the fun part...mounting the used tires. I was having a heck of a time setting the bead...took way more ether I usually need, and even then the first one took 3 attempts. The second one went on easy enough, though...I used plenty of ether on it the first time. I pull the brake drum off, and the shoes are easy enough to change. Got everything put back together and checked the time... Already after 4:00 Did the right rear next...those wheels came off like they were supposed to...nice & easy. Changed the brake shoes while the tires were deflating, then broke 'em down and got to mounting the other 2 used tires. The first one went on fairly easily...got it set on the first attempt. The second one, though, after 4 tries I was out of ether. Dangit. Jump in the F250 and run to town. Got to Auto Zone at 5:30. They close at 6. Wouldn't have been that big of a deal, as Wal-Mart is 24 hours and was only a couple miles farther up the road. Bought 4 cans of ether...don't want to have to run back to town tonight. Called mom to wish her a happy mudder's day on the way home...talked for about 15 minutes and hung up as I was getting back to the house. Took me 4 more tries to get that danged bead set on the last used tire...twice, it ALMOST set, and then popped back off after a few seconds. Eventually, I got it though. Put the right rear all back together and contemplated leaving it...but that front right inside needed to come off as it's starting to resemble a racing slick more than a drive tire on the one shoulder. The front right went flawlessly. Wheels came off, brake shoes were changed, pulled the inside tire off the rim and mounted up the tire that was on the right rear outside to go on that front inside position. I LOVE Michelin tires...effortless when setting the bead. Just stand the tire up, hook up the air line, and it does the rest all by itself. It was starting to get dark, so I REALLY thought long & hard about doing the front left...with all the trouble I had with the left rear, I wasn't looking forward to it. Besides, that was the slack adjuster that had gone bad, so those brake shoes still have a good bit of meat on 'em still...almost look new...so I really didn't HAVE to change 'em...and of all the inside tires, this one was still usable at 4/32 even though the one that had been on the left rear outside had 6/32 tread and would match the 6/32 on the outside tire that's on the front left better. What the heck. I got out my work lights and pulled the wheels. They came off flawlessly. I broke down the inside wheel, and again took that rear outside and moved it up to the front inside position. Again...LOVE Michelin tires. Bead set effortlessly. I pulled the drum to do the shoes, and that's when I found my NEXT job Looks like I'm leaking axle grease from the inner seal on the hub. So, I decided I'm not going to put these new shoes on there just to get 'em trashed with axle grease until I can get the parts to fix it. I put the drum back on, put the wheels on, and came in to grab a bite to eat. Dang. Already 1/4 to 10. Still gotta grease it and hook back up to the trailer so I can run tomorrow. Guess I better get back to work wow.

'round here, we ain't got nuthin' but 3 churches, an old abandoned school building, a produce stand, a landscape place, a boat repair shop, and a DOT scale house that ain't hardly ever open. No post office. No gas station. No cops. Fire dept is in the next town north and is all volunteer. Population MIGHT be pushing 60 or so...

Population 1300? That's danged near urban!

I know what ya mean... I wish I was 20-30 years older....so I could have owned new trucks back when they were worth owning. Now, ya got the EPA mandating a bunch of crap that I just don't want to have to deal with...which only adds to their outrageous price. If I ever win the lottery, I might buy a new truck...but since I don't waste my money buying tickets, I doubt I'll be hitting the jackpot anytime soon. I sure as hell ain't spending my hard earned money on a new POS

'bout damn time you joined the club

Sure there is...the 25 mile drive to the shop (on duty in the log book, no less) at 6 or so mpg, then it takes them just as much time to do the job as I could have done it myself...and then the 25 mile drive back...and I have to be there during their business hours...M-F 8 AM to 5 PM, and Sat 8 AM to noon. So, I'd either have to lose a load or two during the week (which adds to the cost of having someone else mess with the tires), or I can't run my errands when places I need to go are open because I'm sitting at the tire shop (again, a cost of having someone else do the work). It's much easier (and cheaper) for me to run the miles in my 25 mpg beater truck to go get the tires (off duty)...then change 'em myself when I have time right here at the house when it is convenient for me to do it.

I've singed the hair on my arms more times than I can count...but NEVER while seating a bead with ether. I've even got the hair on my face and head a few times...but again, never while trying to seat a bead with ether. For as much as I've played with fire, it's amazing I don't have more scars than I do...and amazingly enough, the only fire scar I DO have is when I burned off a mosquito bite that was buggin' me. I've had my fingers charred by a mapp gas torch...nearly started my room on fire...been knocked on my ass by a large ball of fire... Yeah, I've had some fun. The guys I hung out with in school didn't mind fire, either. I remember one buddy laying under his 77 T-bird fixing a leaky fuel tank...fuel running up his arm....lit cigarette hanging out of his mouth.

yeah...but mine ain't THAT old

...and they trust a youngin like you to haul them big-ass grenades? I ain't gotcha beat by TOO much...just turned 31 in Feb.

My Mack was built before V*lv* was in the picture.

...but I like playing with fire